Stagecoach 2013: Commander Cody pilots great set at festival

Stagecoach 2013: Commander Cody pilots great set at festival

Commander Cody plays the Stagecoach country music festival on Friday. (Will Lester/staff photographer)

INDIO – Commander Cody, with his keyboard and backing band, performed a set of hits that brought to life the crowd inside the Palomino Stage at the Stagecoach country music festival.Cody, who’s group is also known as Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, initially drew a small crowd to the Palomino Stage but by the end of his set it was more than half full with many in the audience toe-tapping or head nodding to the mix of country swing, rockabilly and blues.

Formed in 1967, the band on Friday afternoon in the more than 90 degree sun performed songs such as 1972’s “Hot Rod Lincoln,” 1973’s “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) and 1975’s “Don’t Let Go.”

When the set wrapped up, Cody walked away from his keyboard to massive cheers with a slight limp before he grabbed a bottle of water and a cane.

The Palomino stage, during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival last weekend, was the massive Sahara Tent.

For the Stagecoach festival, the tent was basically hollowed out with its elaborate LCD lighting system removed. In its place was lots of hay bales and a simple stage set up where people could bring their lawn chairs, and in one case, a dog, and watch the music.